Today in the MHSAA: 1/6/20

January 6, 2020

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

The clashing of statewide wrestling powers and a nearly unbelievable performance on the ice highlighted a power-packed first weekend of 2020.

1. Wrestling: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central, No. 2 Davison, No. 3 Brighton and Division 2 top-ranked Lowell took the top four team places, respectively, at the 56th DCC Invitational – Oakland Press

2. Hockey: Division 2 No. 2 Livonia Stevenson downed Hartland 5-2, with Seth Lause scoring an incredible three short-handed goals – Observer & Eccentric

3. Boys Basketball: Flint Beecher downed Benton Harbor 76-62 in a matchup of teams expected to make runs at Finals championships in March – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

4. Hockey: Division 1 No. 5 Brighton handed the first loss of the season to the last team without one, 3-2 to Division 3 top-ranked Calumet – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Hockey: Division 1 top-ranked Detroit Catholic Central earned a significant league win 6-0 over No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s – Oakland Press

6. Girls Basketball: Kelsey Richards went over 30 points for the fifth straight game as Fruitport Calvary Christian earned a 50-46 statement win over Central Montcalm – Muskegon Chronicle

7. Wrestling: Division 4 top-ranked Clinton followed a pair of individual champions to the team title at the 45th Dave Elliott Memorial Tournament – Adrian Daily Telegram

8. Boys Basketball: In another matchup of championship hopefuls, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s downed Grand Blanc 69-66 – Flint Journal

9. Girls Basketball: Hart continued its surge with a 51-35 win over Calvary Christian the day after the latter’s big win noted above – Muskegon Chronicle

10. Hockey: Ann Arbor Pioneer improved to 8-2 with a 2-1 win over rival Skyline in the final of the Jilek Cup – We Love Ann Arbor

Also of note …

Football: The football community is mourning the death of Zeeland West assistant Gasper Giarmo, who coached more than 30 years combined at seven schools including a decade at Byron Center – Grand Rapids Press

Today in the MHSAA: 4/10/18

April 10, 2018

By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor

Each weekday of the school year, we break down the top headlines courtesy of Michigan’s sports media.

1. Girls Soccer: Kayla Gacioch had two goals and an assist to lead Livonia Stevenson past rival Livonia Churchill 4-0 – Observer & Eccentric

2. Baseball: Grosse Pointe South was outhit by Detroit U-D Jesuit but prevailed over the Cubs 7-4 – Detroit News

3. Girls Soccer: St. Joseph Lake Michigan Catholic downed rival St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran 2-1 – St. Joseph Herald-Palladium

4. Softball: Pinckney relief pitcher Hannah Fuhr had 15 strikeouts over a two-game sweep of Ypsilanti – Livingston Daily Press & Argus

5. Volleyball: Adrian Madison coach Dawn Opsal has stepped down with a 607-264-84 record since taking over the program two decades ago – Adrian Daily Telegram

6. Volleyball: Battle Creek Harper Creek coach Terra King was named a recipient of a Sports 40 Under 40 Award by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association and Coach & Athletic Director magazine – Battle Creek Enquirer

7. Girls Basketball: Longtime Grand Rapids-area coach Jimmy Carter retired from East Kentwood at the end of March, and former Ottawa Hills standout Eric Large has been hired to replace him – Grand Rapids Press